Simone WilsonUpdate: The firefighter, Glenn Allen, was declared dead at 12:15 p.m. on Friday, February 18 — a tragic end to a heroic 38-year career. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa lowered city flags to half-staff and said, “My thoughts and prayers are with the family of firefighter Allen and his extended family of firefighters at LAFD.''
Updated after the jump: Dane Cook Tweets that he actually lives next door, and the mayor talks heroes.
Two Hollywood Hills residents who had just moved into a two-story home on the 1500 block of North Viewsite Drive, near Sunset Plaza — a mansion formerly belonging to “comedian” Dane Cook, the guy in that terrible Jessica Simpson romcom — hadn't gotten to enjoy their magnificent 6,000-square-foot home but a week before a massive fire charred it to shreds from 11:20 p.m. to 1 a.m. last night.
More importantly…
… six L.A. city and county firefighters were injured while trying to tame the blaze. Most critical is one veteran city 'fighter, with the force since the '70s and one short year from retirement, who was standing on the mansion's roof when it collapsed in the height of the rager.
In order to pull him out from under the rubble, his fellow firefighters resorted to using a chainsaw. The veteran's pulse actually stopped for a moment, L.A. Fire Department officials say, but was “resuscitated at the scene and rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in grave condition” [KTLA].
Four of his colleagues, including one with a broken ankle, joined him there — but have since been released. From the KTLA report:
The fire appears to have started near a fireplace and then extended into the attic, according to L.A. City Fire Deputy Chief Mario Rueda. …The owner told KTLA he woke up to the sound of the sprinkler system going off, and that it was a neighbor who initially saw the flames and smoke and called 911.
However, both residents got out in time and are doing fine, besides the fact that their brand-new piece of prime real estate is now in shambles on the Hollywood Hillside. Last we checked, Cook's was worth about $7 million. Eek. Let's hope they had one bomb-dig insurance policy.
At 8:30 a.m., City News Service provided an update on the veteran firefighter's condition:
“He is fighting for his life,'' [LAFD Captain Tina] Haro said. “There is no change in his condition. He is in grave condition.''
We're pulling for you, man.
Update: Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa takes a moment to honor the man of the hour:
“One of those firefighters, a 38-year LAFD veteran, is currently fighting for his life. As residents of this great city, let us never forget the men and women who selflessly put their lives at risk to protect our families, our homes, and our neighborhoods. These first responders are real-life, every day heroes who rush into the face of danger not just because it is their job, but because their devotion to the noblest of professions soars high.”
Cook is meanwhile Tweeting that news reports have his residence down wrong — that he actually lives next door. (City News Service is still somewhat holding its ground on that front: “The residence may have been the former home of comedian Dane Cook, according to several sources, but Cook sent a twitter message this morning saying the home belonged to a neighbor.”) Via @danecook:
Credit: Twitter
Hmmm. Re: top Tweet, looks like Cook may have pulled a Nir Rosen and whipped out the LULZ in a time of tragedy. Anyone read what he said before the withdrawal?
Originally posted at 9:10 a.m.
[@simone_electra/swilson@laweekly.com]
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